Thursday, January 07, 2016

Stitch Journal: Week 1

So far, this has been a joyful project. I guess I half expected that a daily art project might feel like a burden or obligation some days. But so far, not at all. Just the opposite—I look forward to stitching each day. Knowing this task lies before me makes me incredibly happy.

I also expected that I wouldn't want to document each day's work. I thought that might feel like drudgery and take some of the joy out of the project. But again, not so. So far, I've been posting a photo on Instagram every day. Documenting is starting to seem like an integral part of the project.

I'm also keeping a paper "calendar" for each month, making a few stitches each day under the date. Not sure what I'll end up doing with these—they could be framed and shown with the 12 finished pieces, or maybe bound together. We'll see.

Day 1: seed stitch. White, for snow. Seeds of hope and new beginnings.

Day 2: running stitch, tawny color of winter weeds

Stitch Journal Day 3: the breeze blew in some French knots

Day 4: dark green of the tall pines

Day 5: more seed stitch

Day 6, in progress: running stitch the color of frosty fields

13 comments:

Kattis said...

Really interesting to follow the process! Do you aim for a abstract piece of work that grows day by day, or do you envision something and work towards that?

Bonnie said...

Hi Kattis. It grows day by day - I do not have a composition worked out in advance. There's no sketch or other guide.

Mousy Brown said...

I'm so enjoying seeing this piece develop day by day and the combination of soft linen and stitch is so beautiful. I think the secret of enjoying a daily project is in making it something you'd naturally like to do every day and to be realistic in how much it's possible to achieve...I'm looking forward to enjoying this project along side you for the whole of 2016 😊

Bonnie said...

Thanks, Emily. I'm glad you are enjoying it!

Brenda said...

I find this so interesting. I really enjoy the progress photos. And you're just making it up as you go along?! Fantastic! I'm looking forward to what you'll do next.

Bonnie said...

Thanks, Brenda. Glad you are enjoying the progress shots.

Bizzy B said...

I love your stitch blogs and always look forward to seeing one. I'm now thinking I might try that some time - maybe. I like that it's stitching, not embroidery (if that makes any sense).

Bonnie said...

Thanks, Bizzy B. I understand what you mean. This is "stitching" instead of embroidery as I'm not embroidering an already existing design.

Shelda said...

You're so creative, Bonnie. Just love to see what you get up to next. The stitching feels so organic, and it's great to watch it grow.

Bonnie said...

Thanks so much, Shelda!

In love with fibre said...

Hi Bonnie - your stitch work has awakened a desire within me to begin stitching. I'm following this recent post of yours with bated breath and have decided to begin my journey with a little sampler just to to get acquainted with stitches and then will begin a project inspired by your "Begin Again" series. Thank you for sharing your work!

Bonnie said...

Thanks for your comment. I'm sure you will enjoy embroidery!

Cathy said...

Embroidery is a calming art form. You have shown how to simply add art to fabric